Sunderland Worse Than We Thought...

Sunderland (KP) – Last month the Sikh Sangat in UK became aware of gross violation in Maryada in Sunderland after an Anand Karaj video was aired on Sky Digital Chanell RAJ TV on 14th October 2006. It was discovered that the Sunderland Sikh Association were responsible for allowing the Anand Karaj in the Hotel where not only was the Pavitar Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji taken violating the Hukamnama of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, but also guest where given seats to sit on in the presence of Guru Sahib.

Scenes of Anand Karaj Beadbi aired on television on 14th Oct 2006

Manjeet S Cheema, General Secretary of the Sunderland Sikh Association, admitted that the Sunderland Sikh Association were responsible for organising the Anand Karaj that clearly violated Gur Maryada and that Granthi Narayan Singh was sent by the Gurdwara Management Committee to conduct the marriage ceremony. However, despite the admittance, the Sunderland Sikh Association has shown no remorse for violating the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and infringing of the Panthic Hukamnama.

Further investigations from the Sikh Sangat showed that the Sunderland Gurdwara Sahib has an adjoining Community Centre in the Gurdwara Complex, similar to other Gurdwara Sahibs like Leeds Chapel Town and Leamington Spa Gurdwara Sahibs, where parties and receptions are held allowing the consumption and serving of liquor, meat, and tobacco. The Sunderland Gurdwara Management Committee have brought shame to themselves and have committed great sin by treating Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as a commodity and using their position as Sevadars of the House of Guru Nanak to make extra money through corrupt means and spitting over Sikh principles.

All the Sikh community are asked to respond to the call of the Guru Khalsa Panth and maintain the dignity and respect of our Gurdwara Sahibs and the Pavitar Saroop of Guru Sahib. Everyday we mention this in our Ardaas. Now is the time to act. The Sarbat Sikh Sangat is urged to contact the Committee of Sunderland Sikh Association to highlight concerns about taking the Pavitar Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to reception halls and allowing liquor, meat, and tobacco into the Gurdwara Complex and Gurdwara owned properties or facilities. The Respect for Guru Granth Sahib Ji campaign said, “Please remember that you are representing the Khalsa Panth when discussing these issues with Sunderland Sikh Association committee, refrain from confrontational or bad language”. The contact details of the Gurdwara Sahib in concern is:

Together responsible Sikhs can reclaim our Gurdwara Sahibs back to the Khalsa and upkeep the Sikh Rehat Maryada, which at the moment is being undermined by various Gurdwara Sahibs up and down the country. The UK Sikh Sangat will only be satisfied fully when the perpetrators of the beadbi fulfil their obligations and produce their written agreement that any disrespect towards Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and offence to the Sikh Sangat will not happen again.Source